diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index b55ced7b..8207551d 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 - added nohalo interpolator
 - updated format docs
 - IM_INPUT_INTERPOLATE() now used by affinei and affinei_all
+- added vips_object_new
 
 11/9/08 started 7.16.3
 - oop typo in manpage for im_project()
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index cfc96742..f85ebdbf 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 
-- interpolate.c never calls vips_object_build() for bilinear etc., is this OK?
-
-  try to add this
 
 - need to write interpolate docs ... manpages and tutorial
 
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/object.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/object.c
index e307dd29..48db8c49 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/object.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/object.c
@@ -964,8 +964,12 @@ vips_object_new( GType type, VipsObjectSetArguments set, void *a, void *b )
 
 	object = VIPS_OBJECT( g_object_new( type, NULL ) );
 
-	if( set( object, a, b ) ||
-		vips_object_build( object ) ) {
+	if( set && set( object, a, b ) ) {
+		g_object_unref( object );
+		return( NULL );
+	}
+
+	if( vips_object_build( object ) ) {
 		g_object_unref( object );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
diff --git a/libsrc/mosaicing/interpolate.c b/libsrc/mosaicing/interpolate.c
index 695416d4..e9379dd2 100644
--- a/libsrc/mosaicing/interpolate.c
+++ b/libsrc/mosaicing/interpolate.c
@@ -208,8 +208,9 @@ vips_interpolate_nearest_init( VipsInterpolateNearest *nearest )
 VipsInterpolate *
 vips_interpolate_nearest_new( void )
 {
-	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( g_object_new( 
-		VIPS_TYPE_INTERPOLATE_NEAREST, NULL ) ) );
+
+	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( vips_object_new( 
+		VIPS_TYPE_INTERPOLATE_NEAREST, NULL, NULL, NULL ) ) );
 }
 
 /* Convenience: return a static nearest you don't need to free.
@@ -422,8 +423,8 @@ vips_interpolate_bilinear_init( VipsInterpolateBilinear *bilinear )
 VipsInterpolate *
 vips_interpolate_bilinear_new( void )
 {
-	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( g_object_new( 
-		VIPS_TYPE_INTERPOLATE_BILINEAR, NULL ) ) );
+	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( vips_object_new( 
+		VIPS_TYPE_INTERPOLATE_BILINEAR, NULL, NULL, NULL ) ) );
 }
 
 /* Convenience: return a static bilinear you don't need to free.
@@ -467,5 +468,5 @@ vips_interpolate_new( const char *nickname )
 	if( !(type = vips_type_find( "VipsInterpolate", nickname )) )
 		return( NULL );
 
-	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( g_object_new( type, NULL ) ) );
+	return( VIPS_INTERPOLATE( vips_object_new( type, NULL, NULL, NULL ) ) );
 }